Singer’s ‘diva’ request to avoid coronavirus

Peter Andre has denied he ordered fans not to touch him over coronavirus fears at an Q&A event in England over the weekend.

The 47-year-old Australian singer spoke about his career and performed an intimate concert for his army of loyal fans at Central Hall in Southampton on Saturday.

But many were left shocked and disappointed when a sign at the venue warned they would not be allowed to touch or take selfies with the star.

"Due to the recent cases of the coronavirus please DO NOT have any physical contact with Peter Andre," the sign said, according to photos posted on Twitter.

"Please DO NOT take any selfies with Peter Andre. Apologies for any inconvenience."

The apparent diva request spawned hundreds of jokes and memes on social media, with fans rewriting the lyrics to one of Andre's best-known hits, Mysterious Girl.

But in an Instagram post on Monday, Andre denied he was behind the sign and said he happily mingled with everyone he met.

"OK this must be a wind up because I hugged everyone I met," he said.

"People were saying to me that they had been told not to touch me and that there were signs. I thought they were joking.

"Brilliant. I am now officially a diva without being a diva. On a serious note though don't touch me."

Forty people have now been infected with the COVID-19 virus in the United Kingdom, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning on Monday the disease would likely continue to spread.

"When it starts to spread - as I'm afraid it looks likely that it will - we are in a position to take the steps that will be necessary," he said.